Reference only rose and peony nursery   Listing last updated on 15 Apr 2024.

Haarlem,
Netherlands

See also under Peony Breeders.

Ernst Heinrich Krelage sr. (1786-1855)
Jacob Heinrich Krelage sr. (November 1, 1824 Frankfurt a.M. - December 1, 1901 Haarlem)
Ernst Heinrich Krelage jr. (January 28, 1869 Haarlem - April 3, 1956 Haarlem)

[From the Dutch National Archives (actorenregister.nationaalarchief.nl/):] In 1811 Ernst Heinrich Krelage sr. (1786-1855) received a patent as a florist and shopkeeper in Haarlem. This is the beginning of the firm that would be brought to fruition by him, his son and grandson. He started his company in a building on the Kampersingel. In 1815 he bought a nursery with a house on the Kleine Houtweg. This site was gradually expanded by acquiring adjacent plots of land, so that it eventually covered the entire complex between Korte and Lange Poellaan and Rustenburgerlaan. By 1840 the company had grown into the largest nursery in Haarlem. Because the land on the Kleine Houtweg was not suitable for hyacinth cultivation, land on the Zijlweg in Overveen was purchased for this purpose, and later in Heemstede. Son Jacob Heinrich Krelage sr. (1824-1901) was taken on by his father as a partner in the company in 1850. From that year on, the company was called E.H. Krelage and Son. Jacob Heinrich Krelage Sr. developed into an expert in the field of botany. He not only limited himself to cultivating flower bulbs, but also concentrated on growing conifers, cacti, strawberries, peonies, dahlias and greenhouse plants. Under the leadership of Ernst Heinrich Krelage Jr. (1869-1956), obsolete types of bulbs were removed from the range and in 1900 the old buildings were replaced by efficient business premises. Bulb cultivation was completely moved to land outside the municipality. Only the office buildings and greenhouses were maintained at the old location. In 1888 the company was granted the designation purveyor to the court. The company enjoyed the patronage of a large number of European royal houses and was renowned for its meticulously crafted catalogues. Traditionally, the Krelages focused on both wholesale and direct sales to private individuals. In 1903, it was decided to divest the former activity for business reasons. In 1919 the company was dissolved.